It's no secret that historically, women's healthcare and the concerns and challenges that surround it have typically fallen to the wayside. From an absence of funding to a lack of access to medical professionals and further, medication, it's an unfortunate reality that continues to be felt far and wide. One of the most universally-experienced struggles, of course, continues to be in relation to contraception, and more specifically, the contraceptive pill.

Previously, you would need to book in to see your GP to be prescribed the pill – an exercise that is not only costly (especially in a cost of living crisis) but presented other personal barriers like proximity to doctors for those who live in regional, rural or remote areas. Even long-term users of the pill could not receive a new script for their medication without making an appointment with their doctor. But in late 2023, a trial in New South Wales allowed eligible women across the state to visit one of more than 1000 pharmacies to receive a resupply of their oral contraceptive pill. Now, that change is set to become permanent -- and even more women will benefit. Below, everything you need to know.

Can you buy the contraceptive pill over the counter in Australia?

At the time of publishing, you can only purchase the contraceptive pill over the counter in two states in Australia – New South Wales and Queensland. But the rules are slightly different in each state.

The New South Wales government has announced that the contraceptive pill will be available without a prescription to eligible women from Saturday, 28 September. To access the scheme, women will need to be aged between 18 and 49, and have been using a 'low-risk' contraceptive pill for at least two years. They'll be able to receive up to a 12-month supply at once.

To access the pill without a repeat script, women will also need to undergo a short consultation with a pharmacist. During the trial phase, the cost of these consults were covered by the government, but once the change becomes permanent, patients will be charged around $20 to $30 for each consult.

Queensland has a similar model in place, with trained pharmacists able to prescribe a range of contraceptive pills to women across the state since March, 2024.

In New South Wales your initial prescription will still need to come from a doctor. But pharmacists can resupply the pill to you after your first prescription. In Queensland, however, select trained pharmacists can prescribe a range of contraceptive options (including the initial presciption).

How old do you have to be to access the pill over the counter?

In New South Wales, you must be at least 18 years of age to have access to the pill over the counter. In Queensland, the minimum age is 16 years old.

What forms of contraception can you buy over the counter?

In New South Wales, a pharmacist can resupply some Combined Oral Contraceptive pills (COC) and Progestogen-Only Pills (POP or the mini-pill) as outlined in the NSW Pharmacy Trial.

In Queensland, select pharmacies can prescribe contraceptive options including:

• Oral medications, including the COC (excluding those with high estrogen dose) and the POP
• Injected medication – depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
• Contraceptive device – the combined hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring